Three police officers were suspended in north Chennai on Thursday, for forging superior officers’ signatures to issue ‘non-traceable certificates’ and ‘passport clearance’ papers to complainants.
Police said the officers were sub-inspector (MKB police station) Michael (45), head constable (MKB station) Ramamirdham (30), and constable (Kasimedu station) Arul (28). They have been suspended until an inquiry is complete.
The suspension is a culmination of a month-long departmental inquiry by a team led by Pulianthope assistant commissioner of police, P. Loganathan. A report was submitted to the commissioner of police, S. George. “As of now, three police officers have been suspended. Such action will be a deterrent against further such incidents,” said Govi Manoharan, assistant commissioner, MKB Nagar.
A non-traceable certificate is a certificate issued by the police declaring that the document or article mentioned in the certificate has been lost and cannot be traced. This certificate helps complainants obtain duplicate copies of their lost documents.
Normally, the police commissioner’s office issues such certificates and also confirms that the documents have been lost.
In December, a resident approached the Kasimedu police station after he had lost his certificates. His complaint was forwarded it to the commissioner’s office to issue a non-traceable certificate. Meanwhile, the constable at the station, Arul, allegedly approached the complainant and issued a certificate from the station itself.
A few days later, the complainant was informed by the commissioner’s office that his certificate was ready. He told them he had already received it from the Kasimedu police station. As this was against regulations, senior police officers smelled a rat and initiated the inquiry.
“The suspended head constable alone issued more than 50 fake non-traceable certificates by forging the then inspector of Washermenpet station’s signature, when she was posted there,” said a senior police officer.
The head constable, who was then transferred to MKB Nagar, continued issuing fake certificates by forging the signature of the crime wing inspector there, he added.
